Shloka 46

बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्

Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause

Devanagari script

षाष्टिकं प्राकृतं ज्ञेयं शालिगोधूमपौरुषम् । ऐश्वर्यं पौरुषं विद्यादणिमाद्यष्टसिद्धिदम्

Transliteration

ṣāṣṭikaṃ prākṛtaṃ jñeyaṃ śāligodhūmapauruṣam | aiśvaryaṃ pauruṣaṃ vidyādaṇimādyaṣṭasiddhidam

Translation

‘ഷാഷ്ടിക’ (അറുപത് ദിവസത്തെ വിള) പ്രാകൃതമെന്ന് അറിയുക; ശാലി അരിയും ഗോധൂമവും (ഗോതമ്പ്) പൗരുഷം (മാനവപ്രയത്നജന്യം) എന്ന് ഗ്രഹിക്കുക. എന്നാൽ ‘ഐശ്വര്യം’ പൗരുഷസ്വരൂപം; അത് അണിമാദി അഷ്ടസിദ്ധികൾ ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു.

Word by Word

• षाष्टिकम्: the ṣāṣṭika (a kind of grain/crop)
• षाष्टिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षाष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (context: object of ‘ज्ञेयम्’)

• प्राकृतम्: natural / material
• प्राकृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with षाष्टिकम्; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known (as)
• ज्ञेयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्यय कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known/should be known’

• शालिगोधूमपौरुषम्: (that which is) pauruṣa in the form of rice and wheat
• शालिगोधूमपौरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि (प्रातिपदिक) + गोधूम (प्रातिपदिक) + पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (शालि+गोधूम) तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्धेन पौरुषम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular

• ऐश्वर्यम्: sovereignty / lordship
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पौरुषम्: pertaining to Puruṣa
• पौरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective agreeing with ऐश्वर्यम्; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विद्यात्: should know (it as)
• विद्यात्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Optative, 3rd person singular; ‘should know/should consider’

• अणिमाद्यष्टसिद्धिदम्: giving the eight siddhis beginning with aṇimā
• अणिमाद्यष्टसिद्धिदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अणिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘अणिमा-आदि-अष्ट-सिद्धि-द’ = ‘giver of the eight siddhis beginning with aṇimā’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with ऐश्वर्यम्; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Uses agrarian and siddhi imagery to distinguish ordinary worldly yield (ṣāṣṭika crops like rice/wheat) from higher aiśvarya that grants aṣṭa-siddhis—indicating graded fruits from prākṛta to pauruṣa attainment.

Significance: Warns against reducing Śiva-upāsanā to mere material gain; acknowledges legitimate worldly fruits while pointing to higher attainments (siddhi) and, by implication, beyond-siddhi liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It contrasts ordinary, effort-based worldly gain (like food produced by agriculture) with higher, Shiva-granted spiritual potency (aiśvarya) that can confer yogic perfections—implying that true supremacy comes through divine grace and Shaiva sadhana rather than mere material productivity.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In the Vidyeshvara context, worship of Saguna Shiva as the Linga is presented as a direct means to Shiva’s aiśvarya—transforming limited human capability into spiritually empowered attainment, ultimately oriented toward liberation rather than display of powers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to pursue Shiva-upasana—especially mantra-japa (such as the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined yoga—seeking Shiva’s grace for inner mastery, not merely worldly results.